Mro On Approach, TCM-3 not required Options

[Redstone]

MRO has shifted from the cruise phase to Approach phase. Apparently, the trajectory is so good that TCM-3 was cancelled. This is good news for the prospects for a long life for MRO supporting future missions. TCM-4 is on Feb 28, and MOI on March 10. Only 5 weeks away!

[edstrick]

I think we're dealing with paleolithic technology standards, maybe from the 70's or 80's.
<grin>

[Airbag]

I think we're dealing with paleolithic technology standards, maybe from the 70's or 80's.
<grin>

Perhaps, but the Small Deep Space Transponders are new technology and used by many current missions. There are only so many X-band channels and they are simply all used up. This is all from the DESCANSO MER telecoms report (very interesting reading I thought).

The spacecraft do have their own IDs, but best not to tempt fate with multiple bit errors etc. and perhaps accidentally accept and decode a command not intended for that spacecraft. And yes, that can happen - Opportunity accidentally went into safe mode during a solar opposition experiment in which a bunch of NOPs was changed into something else as multiple bit errors slipped by the error checking etc.

There are several techniques (other than the obvious one of using Mars itself as a "blocker") that can be used to make sure X-band signals intended for MRO (and that is the important one during aerobraking) only get to MRO. From memory, I can recall these (there were others too):

- Change Opportunity's antennas' polarization (so that it is opposite to that of MRO)
- Doppler adjustment for specific target
- Reduce transmit power level (MRO has more gain)

Airbag

PS BTW, receivers are typically *never* turned off (except during Opportunity's Deep Sleep).